The arrest of an accused fraudster returning to Canada from China and a deportation order against another to send him back to India shed new light on a mass victimization scam that swindled millions of dollars from Canadians.

The telemarking scam was so voracious and efficient that almost every phone number in Canada was dialled, and most Canadian residents received a call trying to cheat them — even police officers who were actively investigating the fraudsters, according to recent RCMP testimony.